On a practical level, having bad breath can be one of the worst
problems to have to deal with. It creates feelings of self consciousness,
anxiety, stress and most importantly of all, it can leave a less than
desirable first impression.
For the most part, we all have a basic routine for combating stinky breath; brush, floss, rinse, mints and gums. The problem with these things is not that they don't work... in fact they work great, but rather they don't work long enough. Usually a few hours after brushing your teeth, most people start to get hints of a stale odor. It's bearable, but eventually starts to go downhill. That's usually when mints or gums come in handy. They provide instant relief and gratification, but again they generally don't last very long before another is needed.
While finding a permanent solution to bad breath might be difficult, it certainly isn't impossible. One of the first places to start is to understand what causes bad breath in the first place. Knowing these things can help you to take preventative measures and be more conscious of the things you do that can have a direct affect on your breath odor.
As most of you know, bacteria is a major cause of a smelly mouth. They feed on organic particles and release smelly compounds. Brushing helps to control bacteria, but they eventually come back. Saliva is a natural protection against bacteria's odorous behaviors. It acts as both an
antibacterial and a cleaner. Staying away from foods and habits that cause dry mouth can go a long way towards keeping fresh breath. Likewise anything that helps to stimulate saliva production will help to keep your breath smelling fresher, longer.
What you eat is another cause of bad breath. Foods high in sulfides such as garlic, onions, meat, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and asparagus are known to have higher concentrations of these compounds. Limiting how much of these foods you eat as well as using an internal odor absorbing deodorant will most definitely help to stop bad breath.
Alcohol and smoking also contribute to chronic breath issues. They cause the mouth to dry and as previously mentioned, a dry mouth is more prone to bad breath causes.
Lastly, sugar can cause more than just cavities. Sugar alters the acidity in the mouth which allows bacteria to grow more rapidly. More bacteria of course will mean more odor compounds being produced.
In summary, finding a permanent solution to fresh breath is not easy. In addition to the basic oral hygiene routines we do each day, being aware of other causes of bad breath can help not only to identify things that make it worse, but also what can be avoided to keep it smelling better for a longer period of time.
problems to have to deal with. It creates feelings of self consciousness,
anxiety, stress and most importantly of all, it can leave a less than
desirable first impression.
For the most part, we all have a basic routine for combating stinky breath; brush, floss, rinse, mints and gums. The problem with these things is not that they don't work... in fact they work great, but rather they don't work long enough. Usually a few hours after brushing your teeth, most people start to get hints of a stale odor. It's bearable, but eventually starts to go downhill. That's usually when mints or gums come in handy. They provide instant relief and gratification, but again they generally don't last very long before another is needed.
While finding a permanent solution to bad breath might be difficult, it certainly isn't impossible. One of the first places to start is to understand what causes bad breath in the first place. Knowing these things can help you to take preventative measures and be more conscious of the things you do that can have a direct affect on your breath odor.
As most of you know, bacteria is a major cause of a smelly mouth. They feed on organic particles and release smelly compounds. Brushing helps to control bacteria, but they eventually come back. Saliva is a natural protection against bacteria's odorous behaviors. It acts as both an
antibacterial and a cleaner. Staying away from foods and habits that cause dry mouth can go a long way towards keeping fresh breath. Likewise anything that helps to stimulate saliva production will help to keep your breath smelling fresher, longer.
What you eat is another cause of bad breath. Foods high in sulfides such as garlic, onions, meat, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and asparagus are known to have higher concentrations of these compounds. Limiting how much of these foods you eat as well as using an internal odor absorbing deodorant will most definitely help to stop bad breath.
Alcohol and smoking also contribute to chronic breath issues. They cause the mouth to dry and as previously mentioned, a dry mouth is more prone to bad breath causes.
Lastly, sugar can cause more than just cavities. Sugar alters the acidity in the mouth which allows bacteria to grow more rapidly. More bacteria of course will mean more odor compounds being produced.
In summary, finding a permanent solution to fresh breath is not easy. In addition to the basic oral hygiene routines we do each day, being aware of other causes of bad breath can help not only to identify things that make it worse, but also what can be avoided to keep it smelling better for a longer period of time.
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